Chapter the First

The Realm of Asgard

"Ohhhhhh my Head." I groaned as I sat up. Where was I? More importantly, why was I in Human Form!? "Shards!?" I screamed. My Magic was gone! I could do NO Magic. "There'll be hell to pay when I get back." I muttered as I got up and dusted myself off. Must have been one last act of my Brethren, locking me in human form and blocking my magic. I heard a noise, and looked around at my surroundings. I was in a town. A human town. People were staring at me. I stared back. These were not Britannian People. Their clothing was strange.

"Excuse me, sir, but what happened to you?" inquired one of the braver townsfolk.

"I was hit by a falling star, you moron" I replied with sarcasm. They looked fearful of me. They probably believed it. "I just came through a Black Gate." Their faces were blank. "A teleportation device" I elaborated.

"Ah." They murmured as one. Another peasant stepped forward. "Look here now, stranger, what is your name, and what is your business here? We don't take kindly to strangers round here"

"My Name is Warped, and my business is just that. MINE!" I replied with annoyance. "Where does your ruler dwell?" I asked, managing a bit more politeness.

"In yonder Castle" He replied, pointing to a large castle outside of town.

"Thank you" I answered. I took off at a run, leaped.... And fell flat on my face. My colorful curses couldn't be heard over the laughter of the crowd. DAMN this body! I thought fiercely. I got up and began walking towards the castle. A young child in the crowd began following me as the crowd dispersed. I turned and let out a low growl. She yelped and ran back. When I finally reached the castle, the Guards stopped me at the gate.

"You cannot pass, peasant" One of them sneered.

I looked him coolly in the face until he looked puzzled. Then I knocked him out. The other one had his sword half out of its scabbard before I knocked him out too. This body has horrible reflexes, I thought angrily as I walked through the courtyard, and into the throne room. On the throne sat a middle-aged man with a beard, holding a spear in his left hand.

"Who art thou?" He inquired with curiosity.

"I am Warped" I replied. I told him of my banishment, and my true nature. His face looked grave.

"I am sorry, but there is none in this world who can help you. Not a mage living could raise the. what did you call it? Moongate? None could raise the Moongate you require. Only one of the mysterious being's known as GM's could do it. Until we find one, I grant you leave to stay here in the castle, and train with my court Mage. If you are what you say you are, mayhap you can teach him something as well."

"Thank you" I said. He rang a bell, and told the servant that came to take me to a guestroom. When the door closed and I was alone, I collapsed on the bed and fell swiftly into sleep's dark maw.

I awoke to the sunlight streaming through my window. I got up, stretched, and went looking for breakfast. I asked a passing servant were the kitchens were. He directed me to the proper door. I went through, and asked the cook for some breakfast. He was happy to help. I left with a full stomach. Lord Odin (as I learned was the name of the King), saw me and asked how I was. "Fine" I replied. "Where is your mage? I would like to meet him".

"Down the hall, too the left" he said. "In the big lab. You can't miss it"

"Thank you" I said as I went down the hall indicated. I entered the Lab and saw an old human in robes studying an ancient, dusty tome. "Hail" I greeted.

"Hail and well met, Warped. Odin told me to expect you. What do you need of me?"

"Teaching in the ways of Human Magic, and the location of a GM" I replied

"In training I can help you, but locating a GM is not possible if they don't want to be found."

"Then train me and I'll find one." I said.

"Agreeable" He responded.

Then began me training in Human Magic. Weeks I spent in learning its ways. It was complicated! Spellbooks, reagents, crystal balls, magic wands, all this to accomplish what I could have done with a wave and a few words using Dragon Magic. Nonetheless, I persevered, and soon outmatched my tutor. In return for his teaching, I taught him a bit of Dragon Magic, not that a human could ever use it. He recorded it happily in a book. I went to the throne room, where Lord Odin was pondering a matter of state.

"Farewell, Lord Odin, for I go now to seek a GM, or a Dragon of the land."

"Farewell, Warped. I wish you luck."

I left the castle, and, using my human Magic took to the air. I flew north over mountains, rivers, and lakes. I landed on a plateau, for it had signs that dragons were there regularly. I camped there three days before a dragon appeared in the sky. He landed, looking at me.

"Hail friend and Brethren!" I greeted him

"Friend we shall see, but you are human, and no human can be brethren to a dragon" He replied

"Ah, but I AM Dragon. I am from the far world of Britannia, once called Sosaria, the" I was cut off.

"Sosaria! The hatching place of our kind, world of legend, it really exists?" He asked excitedly.

"Indeed, It exists, friend, but most dragons are cruel and evil. There is one Weyr that is of good dragons, but alas! I was not hatched in it. I was banished from Destard, the ancestral home of our kind, because I was good, not evil. The locked me in this form, blocked my magic, and sent me through a Black Moongate. So now I am here, searching for a way back."

"That is a sorry tale, and now that I am closer, I smell the scent of Dragon on you. If you ARE from Sosaria, you are of the Elder race, the one before all. You are greater than I, and I would be honored to serve you." He kneels, as well as a dragon can.

"No, no friend. Get up!" He slowly rises. "Bow not to me, for I am a banished, and until I am back, I am no greater than you." I say. If you would like to accompany me on my quest home, I would be honored, but do not bow to me."

"Very well. I would gladly accompany you on your quest to return to Sosaria. Where is it you go now in this world?" He inquires

"I have had training in clumsy Human magic, but 'tis not enough. I seek a GM." I reply gravely

"A GM! Hmmmmmmm. I think I know where one is. I would be honored to take you there." He offers his leg as a step onto his back.

"Gladly do I accept your offer, for flying with human magic drains my mana all to swiftly!" I climb onto his back. "Fly, friend!' I cry. He leaps into the air. Many hours we fly, and below us pass the strange land. I learned from my friend, who is called K'vin, that this Realm is called "Asgard". When we arrive, there is nothing but desert as far as I can see. I dismount, and all of a sudden, a man on what looks like a Rabid Ostrich appears out of nowhere.

"That's Him. That's a GM." K'vin whispers.

I approach him and look him in the eye, not flinching.

"Hail and well met!" I greet him.

"Hail. And who might you be?" he responds with curiosity. "Not many people would risk approaching a GM."

"I am Warped Dragon, from the world of Sosaria. I was banished here by my evil brethren, and I seek a way to return home. I was thrown through a Black Moongate, and I am told only a GM could raise one in this world." I reply

"Well" he muses. "It would take more than one GM to do this, I must confer with my Brothers. I am RuneStar, Keeper of the Realm. Here" he tosses me a deed. "This is a house. You may live in it while we debate your plea." He then vanishes.

"Well," I say, "that went well"

"It did indeed, for you are still breathing" K'vin grins. "Not many people see a GM and live to tell about it."

"How do I get a House out of this piece of paper?" I ask, changing the subject

"It is a deed. You place it. It is a special magic the GM's created."

"Where should I place it?" I ask

"Wherever you please," K'vin replies. "Come. I know just the place."

I climb on his back, and we took off. He took me to a valley in the mountains. I placed my house there, and there I dwelt. It was many weeks before the GMs decided. I spent my time talking with K'vin of dragons in Asgard, and practicing my Human Magic. One morning I came running out of my house, looking for K'vin. He was sleeping under a tree, the lazy oaf. I ran up panting. He cracked open an eyelid.

"And what brings you here in such a hurry, Warped?" He inquires sleepily.

"This" I say proudly, and begin casting a human spell. "VAS YLEM REL" I yell, scattering the reagents over my body, and making arcane gestures with my hands. Upon its completion, what K'vin saw jolted him fully awake and very surprised. Where I had stood as a Human, I now stood in my Dragon Form. My shining Jet Black Scales tinted with Scarlet and Gold gleamed in the sunlight. I struck a regal pose, back straight up, wings unfurled as far as they would go, head held high. The very image of a Dragon. Poor K'vin almost fainted.

"Your...Your...Your in your Proper form!" He almost screamed. "The curse has worn off!"

"No, friend. I have overcome it for a short time, using human magic. It will soon destroy my feeble spell, and I will revert to human form. But until then, I am myself!" I shout the last part, draw back my wings, and leap into the air. I fly around until I feel the spell wearing off, then I land just before turning back to human.

K'vin is just staring, not moving. "You really ARE of the Elder Race. Only they would have the color you have! I am honored to be your friend," He says solemnly.

"That's nice to know." I reply, amused. "Now, though, I think that I would like to destroy the curse forever!"

"A worthy goal" agrees K'vin. "I must leave you for a short time, Warped. I must go inform my kin of you and your race. I will be back in about a week, for they will convene the council, and debate about whether or not to meet you. I will return when I can"

"Fare thee well, K'vin. Walk in Virtue" I say sadly

"Farewell, Warped. " He replies before he flies off. Now I am alone.

I mined in those weeks I was by myself. I needed a way to let off my anger, so I conjured a rock-pick and beat on the nearby mountains with it. I collected the ore I gained, for I thought I might need it. One day out mining, a bright light appeared in the sky. Brighter than a star, it was rapidly growing bigger. It flew down, dropping like a rock, and went through the roof of my house. Of course I was not happy about this. In fact I was downright pissed. I went in through the door, ready to melt the rock, when I saw it wasn't a rock at all. It was a ship of some kind, fashioned of a metal I have not seen before or since. Out of the wreck stumbles a man. I decided to help him.

"Who are you?" I asked him

"I am Superman, and who are you?"

"Warped Dragon, of Sosaria"

"I am from Krypton. It was destroyed soon after I left. I was seeking Earth, but something went wrong and my ship crashed here."

"Earth?! You were headed for Earth?" I am almost mad with joy. If he was headed for Earth, that means Sosaria cannot be far away!

"I was. Now I am here, and stuck by the looks of it." He says with a sense of gloom.

"You and me both, friend" I reply. "But I am waiting for someone who will maybe help me get back to Sosaria, and once there, I can send you to Earth."

"Really? Very well then. I will travel with you, with your permission."

"Granted."

We helped each other out, He traveled to the towns selling my ore and ingots, while I stayed and mined. I couldn't go to town safely, for the people were mortally afraid of me, for my reputation, as an insane hermit mage had spread. Superman made the trips. Soon K'vin returned...



"Warped! I have Good news for you!" K'vin yells from outside. Superman comes out of the house to see who is yelling for me.

"WARPED! THERE IS A DRAGON OUTSIDE YOUR HOUSE!!!!" Superman yells at me. I walk calmly out and step between Superman and K'vin

"It's okay, he's a friend." I say calmingly.

"He's a DRAGON!" replies Superman not so calmly.

"So am I" I answer. "You don't see me eating people, why would he?"

"You? Dragon? DRAGON? WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME???" He yells

"Never saw a point in it"

I make introductions; Superman gets over his dragon problem. Turning to K'vin, I ask, "What's the good news?"

"The Council of Elders wants to meet with you." He says.

"Why that's great!" I say. "When?"

"In 2 days time" He replies.

"I await it with glee"

The next day, we are visited by RuneStar.

"Warped, the GM's have come to a decision." He tells me.

"And what did they decide?" I ask

"We," He waves his hand and 3 more GM's appear. "Have decided to negate your curse and magic block. We would send you home, but we know neither where this "Sosaria" is, nor which dimension. Therefore, we cannot send you back." He says with sadness.

"'Tis okay," I say, "for I am to meet with the local Dragons and mayhap we can find a solution to this problem."

"Perhaps. We wish them luck. And now, Warped Dragon, thou art free!"

A blue glow springs into existence around each GM. Slowly it grows until they are connected by it. Then, a tendril of it reaches for me. As it grows closer it thickens. It touches me, and suddenly I am in Dragon form. The Curse and Magical Block, both are absorbed, contained, and destroyed by the magic of the GMs.

"FREE!" I yell. Lighting crackles out of a clear sky. Thunder Rumbles. The sky clouds over and a storm is beginning. "Thank you," I say to the GMs "Thank you from the bottom of my Dragonic Heart."

"Your welcome" They say as one, then vanish in a pillar of flame.

The days pass in a blink of an eye. I am so happy to have my magic back, to have my form back. K'vin also is happy. We fly around each other, having contests. I am faster and stronger than he is. He attributes it to my being of the elder Race. I say it is because I was hatched of Wild Dragons. We happily argue about this for hours in the tongue of dragons. I feel sorry for Superman. On earth, he would be flying with us. Here, he is as ground bound as any human. I use my magic to make him able to fly. We three race around the valley all day, rejoicing in the joy of flight. Soon, the time comes for me to go before the council.

"Warped. It is time," K'vin tells me. We fly to his Weyr, and all the dragons are awed by my color and size.

"K'vin, why are they staring at me?" I whisper.

"You are as big and as colorful as the Elder Race of Legend. They believe you have come to lead them back to our ancient home."

"Mayhap I will, as soon as I find it!" I reply. Superman Laughs. The Dragons are also looking at him in wonder, for a human flying with ease is not a common sight.

"Come, Warped. The Elders await" K'vin says to me. I go with him through arched stone doors.

"Ah, K'vin!" Booms a great voice. "You have returned with thy Friend"

"As I said I would, Elder" K'vin responds

"We never doubted you." He replies. Turning to me, he says, "Welcome, Warped, to our Weyr. We have debated your case, and we agree to help you find a way back to Sosaria, so long as you bring us with you."

"Agreed" I say.

"I am T'dam," he says, "leader of the council and of this Weyr. Come, tell us your story."

I relate my story to him and the council. After I am done, one of the council members rise.

"How do we know he are what he says? How do we know he is from Sosaria of Legend, hatching place of our kind?" He demands with hostility.

K'vin leaps to his feet. "How can you doubt? Look at him. He is bigger than any Dragon in Asgard. His color is that of the Elder Race, as described in the ancient writings. His mastery of Magic is beyond any mage living now, and his mind holds knowledge of Sosaria, as described in the ancient texts."

T'dam stands. "K'vin, the points you raise are valid, but you must not speak out of turn, nor must you speak so to a member of the council." K'vin looks ashamed.

"Cheer up, friend" you nudge him with your wing. "You did what you thought right. None can fault you for it"

T'dam turns to the council member. "We have questioned him. His answers confirm what is written in the texts that only we have access to. His color and size are that of the Elder Race. He is who he says he is." He delivers his speech sternly. The offending member sits down quietly. "We have agreed to help him, now we must figure out how."

I stand up. "When my kin sent me here, it took every mage in the Weyr working together to raise the Black gate. And they could only hold it for a few seconds. I think I have another solution." I point to Superman. "He was heading to a world near Sosaria, in the same dimension. He was going to Earth, when his ship was knocked off course and he crashed here. I cannot believe it is coincidence. We both know all Moongates can perform the functions of those under them. Red can cross land as well as worlds. Black can cross land, worlds and dimensions. It is possible that the Black Gate only sent me to another world, not Dimension."

"It is possible" T'dam says. "But we have no knowledge of where it is. We cannot create a gate to there."

"I know. But I have a solution" I say. "When I was cursed, I had to learn Human Magic. I have discovered a way to Mark places on runes, so that I may return to that spot by casting recall. Using Dragon magic, I think I could create a gate to the place from another world. So no matter where I end up if you create a gate, I can always return."

"Thy Idea has merit. We shall do this. We shall create a red gate and send thee off. No matter where you end up, you can return here. When you find Sosaria, mark it and return here, that we may come to our ancient home." T'dam says.

"I shall do this." I reply, and then and there I mark a rune.

Preparations are made. In 3 days, we shall depart Asgard and go to another world. I know not where, but I will continue to search for Sosaria. The time passes quickly. As Superman and I prepare our belongings, T'dam asks me a question.

"Is it alright if K'vin accompanies you on your journey? He has asked to go with you."

"It is fine with me," I say.

Later that day, the entire Weyr gathers to see us off. As the gate opens, K'vin, Superman, and I turn to face the crowd.

"Farewell!" we cry, and turn and step through the Pulsing Red Moongate.